Electric heating system for boilers.



J. F. McELROY.

ELEOTRIG HEATING SYSTEM FOR BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1908.

1,030,672, Patented June 25,1912.

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ELECTRIC HEATING SYSTEM FOR BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1908.

1,030,672 Patented June 25, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I I Fem-I I? dent of the city steam taken from the locomotive.

JAMES E.

MQELRCY, OF ALBANY, NEW'YOBK, ASSIGNQR TO CONSOLIDATED CAR HEATING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

nnnc'rmc HEATING SYSTEM non corneas.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1912.

Application filed September 1c, 1908." Serial-No. 453,252.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES F. MoELRor, a citizen-of the United States, and a resiof Albany, county .of A1- bany, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Imprm'ements in Electric Heating Systems for Boilers, of which the following .is a full, clear, and complete disclosure.

The object of my invention is to rovide a system by which the generation or steam or vapor may be accomplished in an economical and efficient manner, by the use of an electric current.

Electrically heated boilers, such as those which form a part of the subject matter of this invention, are particularly applicable to steam heating-where it is desired to do away with the use of the usual primary means for generation of heat, such as by the combustion of gas, coal or oil.

At the present-tirne passenger cars employed on railroads are provided with means for heating, during cold weather, by

Passenger trains-or cars are now not only operated over considerable lengths of track where electric locomotives are employed solely, but

such trains are also operated over tracks by e the use of steam locomotives for a part of the distance, and by electric locomotives for another or other parts of the distance.

When a train of cars equipped with the" usual steam heating apparatus, and drawn by a steam locomotive, reaches certain points where it' enters what is ordinarily termed the electric zone, or that portion of the line where the electric locomotive is used, it is necessary to provide some means I for heating the cars which were before heated by the steam from the boiler of the locomotive.

.One object and adaptation of my inventio-nis, therefore,to provide an electric locomotive with a system for generating steam electrically, so that the steam may be applied to heating the cars already equipped with steam heating apparatus. Through the application of efficient mechanism for this purpose, the necessity of re-equipping the cars with electric heating apparatus is obviated.

In the adaptation of my invention for heating railway cars, I 'preferably provide a steam boiler that is. mounted on a locoof my improved system, for such electrically heated boilersand similar devices may be used under other conditions and in other situations, as the occasion may demand.

A further object of my invention is to provide a steam generating system which will be substantially automatic in its'operation, and which will be protected against any unusual conditions or circumstances which. may arise from the cessation or abnormal operation ofany of the parts of the system.

Further objects and features of my in- Vention will be apparent from the follow ing specification and the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of an electrically heated steam boiler used in connection with my improved system; Fig. 2- is a diagrammatic side elevation of the same, showing the electrical connections, and also showing controlling valves in crosssection. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the float mechanism and its con-' nected controlling valve. Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the same taken substantially on the, line A A, Fig. 3; Figs. 5, 6 and.7, are detailed views of the controlling valve and the connections .between .the same and the float, and 8 is alongitudinal, sectional view of the controlling valve showing the passages therein. Fig. 9 i

'- their use under difi'erent circumstances.

The tubes 4.- of the boiler terminate in the boiler heads 5 in the manner ordinarily employejd in connection with muiti-tubular supply pipes, 10 and 11, are connected, re-' spectively, with the tanks 2 and 3, and these Number 453,250, filed September 16, 1908.

However, any suitable heating elements may be used in connection with the boiler, the particular form thereof not forming an essential part of the invention of this application.

At the top of the boiler and connected with the steam space above the boiler tubes, is a pipe 7 which is preferably provided witha valve 8, by which the steam may be manually controlled, if desired. A con-' tinuation 9 of the pipe 7 extends to any 7 suitable point where the steam is to be used, and in the case of an electric locomotive extends to the ends of the locomotive, where flexible couplings may be attached, connecting it to a long train pipe. Water may extend to any point conveniently located for obtaining water, such as through the floor of the cab of the locomotive, where they may terminate in suitable couplings to be connected to ahose from a water tower,

or similar source of supply near the railroad track. -Equalizing pipes 12 and 13 connect the tops and'bottoms, respectively, of the water tanks 2 and 3'. From the bottom of the tanks 2 and 3, and preferably connected to the equalizing pipe 13, is a pipe'14'for.

conducting the water to a suitable pump 15,

for forcing the water into the boiler. This pump is preferably operated by an electric motor, (not shown), the current to which is supplied by a switch, 16. The water is.

conveyed to the boiler from the pump '15 by means of a pipe 17 "The switch 16, which controls the pump 15, is operated by an air controlled plunger,

18. The casing'for the plunger 18 is connected by a pipe 19, with an air controlling valve 20. This valve 20 is operated by a float mechanism contained in the casing, indicated at 21, and will be described in detail hereafter. The details of this valve and float mechanism are not here described in detail, as I'do not desire to limit In self to any Specific construction, the forms s own being merely for illustrative purposes. This valve 20 and the float mechanism 21 are so arranged that when the level of the water rises above a certain point in the boiler, the plunger 18 will be operative to open the switch 16, thereby discontinuing the supply,

' magnets.

switches as indicated at 41 an of water. When the water levelv in the boiler lowers below a certain definite point,

'the automatic switch 16 is closed and the pump 15 starts, thereby raising the water level to the proper height. The valve 20 is also connected with a pipe 22, which enters the casing of a second plunger mechanism 23. This plunger mechanism controls a switch, 24, contained in the circuit, which controls current to the heating elements,.in this instance located in the boiler tubes 4. Another automatic switch 25, is also contained in the last-named circuit, andthis-is operated by a plunger mechanism 26, the casing of which is connected with the interior of the boiler by a pipe 27. The plunger mechanism 26, is so arranged that when the steam pressure in the boiler rises above a certain amount, the switch 25 will 'be opendd, thereby shutting off the supply of current to the heating elements and stopping the generation of steam.

The heating circuit of the boiler is preferably connected so as to form two parts,-

as indicated at 28 and 29; in' other words, the heating elements in the boilersare' arranged in two separate parallel connected circuits, one half the tubesbeing in eaclf circuit. This construction is, referab1e where large boilers are used, which consume a large amount of current. One endof each of these circuits is connected to the ground, as in the ordinary method of grounding circuits on the electric locomotives, and is indicated at 30 and 31. minals of the heating elements are connected through large contactors to the third rail 40, or other stationary conductor, for sup plying the electric current, and these connections mayinclude' suitable overload or cutout switches, indicated at 32 and 33. Separate contactors, 34 and 35, are preferably provided for each terminal of the heating circuit in the leads 36 and 37 The contactors 34 and 35 are connected with a lead 38 i from the contact shoe 39, operating upon the third rail 40, or other sim lar stationary current-carrying conductor. The contactors 34 and 35 are standard devices now used with electrical apparatus, and are devices in which switches of heavy currentcarrying capacity are provided with magnetic blowouts and controlled by electro- In the present arrangement of my system the controlling magnets for the 'switches of these two contactors are preferably arranged in series, and when these magnets are excited, the switches of the contactors are closed, and when not excited, the switches are open.

In order to. give the engineer control of r the heating circuit,.as well as the circuit for operating the feed water pum I provide 42. These switches are included in respective circuits The opposite ter Forthis purpose I preferably take air from the main reservoir which is placed on the electric locomotive and is used for supplying airto the. air brake system. As. this pressure is carried at about 130 pounds per square inch, I preferably valve 43 in the pipe leadlng from the main reservoir to the valve 20, and this reducing valve is set so as to maintain a pressure of about eighty pounds upon the valve 20. The air at this pressure is directed by the ports of the rotary valve 20 to cause pressure upon the piston or diaphragm valves 18 and 22. I have shown the main reservoir R to which the pipe connects which leads through the reducing valve 43 diagrammatically, asssame is old in the art, and is found on every locomotive used in passenger service. I may also use, if desired, an air reservoir supplied by an air pump operated by an automatically controlled electric motor, as is the practice with air brakes on electric vehicles.

In Figs. 3 to 8 inclusive I have shown in detail the float and valve mechanism conneeted therewith. The casing 21 contains the float which is carried upon an arm 46 fixed to the rod or shaft 47 having bearings 48 and 49 in the casing 21. A lever 50 fixed to the shaft 47 is pivotally connected at its outer end with a link 51, the opposite end of said link being pivotally connected to the arm 52, which operates the valve 20. The valve 20 preferably comprises amain casing, or casting 53-having three pipe connections, one of which as indicated at 54 is connected withthe pipe from the pressure reservoir, the connection 55 being connected with the pipe 19 to the plunger device 18 for con:

trolling the switch 16 and the connection 56 beingconnected with the ipe'22 leading to the plunger device 23 or operating the switch 24. The rotary part 57 of the valve 20 is preferably made of brass andis preferably made integral with the lever 52- On the finished side of the rotary part 51 are placed two grooves 58 and 59 in the form of arcs of circles, one of which is over the "supply port 54 and the other is always in communication with the exhaust port 66. A slight rocking motion of the rotary member 57 is su-ficient tocauseeither of the ports 55 use a reducing or 56 to communicate with the'air pressure port 54, and thus the plunger mechanisms 18 or 23 would be operated. It will be obvious that the rocking motion of the member 57 of the valve is caused'by the rise and fall of the float 45 in ,the casing 21. The rotary member 57 of the valve 21 is preferably provided with. a hole through its center or axis, and through this hole a bolt 61 passes, having a groove on its under side in which are inserted the anti-friction balls or similar devices 62. The belt 61 passes through the with a helical spring 63 at its outer end, held inlposition by a cap 64 and nut 65-. The tension spring may be adjusted by tightening or loosening the nut 65, and may be made to correspond to any pressure of the air passing through the valve. The float 45 is preferably provided with a spring counterpoise 66 carried on a downwardly projecting arm 67 on theshaft 47 and fixed in relation to the arm 46. The spring retainer or bearing part 68 is pivotally/ connected with the projection of arm 67 ,the opposite end of the spring 66 being retained in a socket 69 attached to the casingZl. By adjusting the tension of this spr ng I am enabled to arrange the float 45 so that it is about one-half submerged in the water, thereby rendering its action positive and reliable.

By the construction and arrangement of parts and apparatus above described, I have succeeded inproducing a system that is entirely automatic, leaving to the engineer only the work of filling the supply tanks with water. Beyond, this the pump does not require further attention. All that is nec- "essary for the engineer to'do in order to put water starts it into operation. ,-The closing of the hand-switch 41 throws into operation center of the casting 53, and is provided the heating elements when the boiler tubes 7 are covered with water and the steam pressure will thereb be raised to the requisite point, above which point the current will be shut off. Thus the steam pressure is maintainedpractically uniform after the system 1 has once been started.

In case the water tanks 2 and 3 become empty while the motor pump is running, it will be apparent that a danger point may be reached, owing to the low level of the water in the boiler resulting from the failure of the supply in the water tanks. This is obviated "by the float valve mechanism 21,

which opens the emergency switch 24.

the other; for instance, should he'close swltch 42 controlling the motor pump for the supply of water to the boiler, the water will rise to its high level,-and then the circuit opens automatically and the pump stops. Should the engineer close the switch 41 controlling the heating elements, without closing the switch 42, heat will be supplied by the heating elements and 'steam'willbe generated until the water in the boiler reaches the low'level at which point the heating circuit willbe automatically cut ofl through the action of the float, valve me'chanism'upon the piston device 23 and the switch 24. Should the boiler be empty when .both the hand switches are closed, heat cannot be applied to the heating elements, since the float valve mechanism 21 will be in such a position as to keep the emergency switch in the heating circuit open. It will thus be seen that there are no practical conditions or emergencies that are not fully met in the automatic apparatus which I have described.

I do not wish to be understood as being limited to the exact details of construction or arrangement of parts, or cir'cuitazonnec tions above set forth, for various changes may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having described this form of my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. Means for controlling electrically heated boilers comprising an electric heating circuit, electric heaters therein, electrically operated means independent ofsaid circuit for controlling the latter, and means operated by the level of the water for controlling said, electrically operated controlling means.

2. Means for. controlling electrically heatedboilers comprising an electric heating circuit, electric heaters therein,- electrically operated means independent of 'said' circuit for controlling the latter, a switch for controlling said "electrically operated controlling means, and'means operated by the level of the water for controllingsaid switch. A

' 3. Means for controllin electrically heated boilers comprising an e ectric heating cir-- CLllt, electric heaters therein, means governed* by the water level in said boiler for controlling said-circuit, and means governed by the steam pressure in said boiler also controlling said circuit; i. Means for controlling electrically heatcd boilers comprising an electric heating cirsuit, electric heaters therein, switches 'con trolling said circuit, means controlled by the water level in said boiler for operating one switch, andmeans controlled ,by the steam pressure in said boiler for operating another one of said switches.

5. In controlling mechanism for an electrically heated boiler, the combination of a heating circuit, electric heaters therein, steam operated means in said circuit, and means operated by the level of the water in said circuit in series with said steam operated means, for controlling the current in said circuit. v

6. In controlling mechanism for an electrically heated boiler, the combination of a heating circuit, electricheaters therein, two switches in series in said circuit, means controlled by the steam pressure for operating one of said switches, and means controlled by thelevel of the water for operating the other switch.

7 ln controlling mechanism for an electrically heated boiler, the combination of a heating circuit, electric heaters therein, two

current controlling devices in series therein,

means controlled by the steam pressure for the boiler, a valve operated by said float,

means for supplying fluid pressure to said valve, means -for controlling the supply of water connected with said valve, and means also connected with said valve for controlling the electric supply, to regulate the'heat of the boiler.

I 9. In controlling mechanism for an electrically heated boiler, the combination of a .float operated by the level of the water in the boiler, valve mechanism connected with 'said float, said valve having inlet exhaust ports, and a plurality of ports for connecting said valve with controlling devices, said controlling devices comprising a controlling device for the water supply and a. controlling device for the supply of electric current to regulate the heat of the boiler.

10. In controlling mechanism for an electrically heated boiler, comprising a float operated by the level of the water in the boiler, a valve connected therewith, said valve comprising a supply fport and an exhaust port and a plurality 0 ports adapted to be connected with controlling devices, a movable .member in said :valve having a pluralit of arc-shaped recesses therein adapted to orm communication respectively with said supply port, and either ofrsaid ports, for the controlling devices, said controlling devices comprising means for controlling the supply of water to the boiler, and means for controlling the supply 'of electric current thereto to regulate the heat of the boiler.

prising one member having supply and ex haust ports and'a plurality of ports for supplying fluid pressure to the controlling devices for the supply of electric current and the supply of water, passages connecting each of said ports with one end of said stationary member, a rotatable member having arc-shaped grooves therein, and elastic means for, holding said valve members in operative position.

12. In controlling mechanism for an elec-v trically heated boiler, the combination with a float controlled by the level of Water in the boiler, a spring adj-ustably connected with said float and forming a counterpoise therefor, a valve, means for supplying fluid pressure to said valve, and controlling devices for the supply of electric current and the supply of water connected with said valve, whereby the volume of water and the temperature thereof may be regulated.

13. In controlling mechanism for an elec trically heated boiler, electrically operated means for supplying water to the boiler, an electric-circuit for said electrically operated means, an automatic contactor provided with actuating coils placed in series in said circuit, a heating circuit, means for controlling said heating circuit, an automatic contactor in said heating circuit.

Signed this 10th day of September, 1908.

JAMES F. McELROY.

Witnesses:

BEULAH CARLE, ERNEST D. JANSEN. 

